Packaging machine



A ril 14, 1964 G. JMURRAY 3, 8 83 PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1962 2 sheets sheet 1 79 us I22 INVENTOR. GILBERT MURRAY AT TORNE Y April 14, 1964 MURRAY 3,128,583

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q F/@ 3 I28 I L] 5'6 [,3 v

INVENTOR 42 GILBERT MURRAY ATTORNEY bag.

United States Patent 3,128,583 PACKAGING MACHINE Gilbert Murray, 129 Foster Terrace, Ridgewood, NJ. Filed May 17, 1962, Ser. No. 195,564 5 Claims. (Cl. 53-119) bundle and then separately roll each newspaper into the familiar cylinder-like shape prior to delivery. This rolling operation consumes considerable time and effort.

I have invented a new type of packaging machine in which individual newspapers can first be rolled automatically into the desired shape and thereafter can be automatically ejected from the machine, thus substantially reducing the time required for the rolling operation and sharply reducing labor costs. Moreover, when desired, the newspaper, during the rolling process, can also be coveredautomatically by an outer protective wrapper to protect the paper from rain, snow and the like in contradistinction to the usual procedure wherein the handrolled newspaper is inserted manually into a waxed paper In addition, my machine can automatically accommodate newspapers of different sizes and thickness with out requiring special adjustment.

Accordingly it is an object of my invention to provide new and improved packaging machinery for separately packing individual paper articles such as newspaper and the like.

Another object is to provide new and improved machinery for automatically rolling individual newspapers into a cylinder-like shape and thereafter ejecting'same from the machinery.

Still another object is to provide new and improved machinery for automatically rolling individual newspapers in .the manner indicated and, at the same time, applying .an outer protective wrapper about the newspaper.

Yet another object is to provide new and improved machinery of the character indicated-which automatically accommodates itself to newspapers of different sizes and ,thickness without requiring any manual adjustment for this purpose.

These and other objects of my invention will either be explained or will become apparent hereinafter.

In my invention, I provide a vertically inclined plate having horizontal upper and lower edges. A wrapping spindle'is positioned adjacent the lower portion of the plate and extends horizontally in a direction parallel to the upper and lower edges. Two separated prongs which extend from one side of the plate along a portion thereof and which are parallel to the spindle are secured to the spindle. The spindle and prongs are rotatable about the spindle axis, this axis defining an axis of symmetry for said prongs. Driving means actuated and deactuated by a switch rotates said spindle through a predetermined transversely of the prongs.

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number of revolutions. A control rod for said switch extends above the plate in a position adjacent the end of the prongs.

A twine tying mechanism provides a vertically suspended length of twine fed from a spool and extending This length of twine is offset from the prongs and is spaced adjacent the switch control rod.

An operator loads fiat newspapers, one at a time, onto the top surface of the plate adjacent the upper edge. Each newspaper in turn is pushed downward by the operator so that the front edge of each newspaper passes between the prongs and at the same time pushes the center portion of the length of twine around the newspaper. As this front edge of the newspaper approaches the prongs, it moves the switch control rod, closing the switch and actuating the driving means. Consequently, the spindle rotates through said number of revolutions, and the newspaper is wound about the prongs in the form of a cylinder. (The length'of twine is sufficiently offset from the prongs so that the twine is wound about the periphery of the wound newspaper rather than the prongs.)

The tying mechanism is actuated as .the spindle completes the proper number of revolutions. This mechanism then ties a knot in the twine, tightens the knot so that the length of twine is tightly tied about the newspaper, and then severs the tied twine from the spool.

An ejector is mounted in the wrapping spindle and is adapted for movement therein. Separate ejector control means actuated after the twine is severed moves into and out of engagement with the ejector to push the rolled and tied newspaper past the plate and away from the prongs into a suitable receptacle. 'At this point'the operator loads another newspaper onto the plate and the entire process is repeated.

I have found that the horizontal separation between the prongs and the tying mechanism cannot be constant for all sizes and thicknesses of newspapers, otherwise for example, newspapers which are thick, i.e. contain many sheets, will not be rolled properly if the machine is working properly with thin newspapers and vice versa. Accordingly, the spindle is so constructed that the separation between the prongs and the tying mechanism is automatically adjusted in accordance with newspaper thickness. 7

When an outer protection wrapping is to be applied over the newspaper, the operator first places the wrapper such as a sheet of wax paper, onto the plate. A newspaper is then placed, centered, on top of the sheet. The newspaper and sheet are then pushed downward together and rolled together into a cylinder in the manner previously indicated, with the wrapper covering the periphery of the rolled newspaper.

An illustrative embodiment of my invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut away side view of a packaging machine in accordance with my invention; I

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially cut away end elevation of the machine of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partially cut away plan view of the machine of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, I provide a vertically inclined plate having a horizontal lower edge 12, a horizontal upper edge 14, a right hand inclined side edge 16 and a left hand inclined side edge 13. (The plate and edges are shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.)

The right hand edge 18 is provided with a low shoulder 21), while the left hand edge 16 is provided with a high shoulder 22. (These shoulders are shown in FIG. 3.) A first guide member or plow 24 is secured to the top of shoulder 21 while a second guide member or plow 26 is secured to the plate 10 adjacent shoulder 21). Both members 24 and 26 are curved and extend inward to the center of the plate as well as extending downward toward the lower edge 12. Further, both of these members are positioned intermediate the upper edge 14 and the lower edge 12.

A hollow wrapping spindle 28 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) extends horizontally along plate ltl and parallel to the upper and lower edges 12 and 14. A chuck having two spaced apart horizontal prongs 30 (FIGS. '1 and 3) which are parallel to the axis of wrapping spindle 23 is secured to spindle 28. Spindle 28 and prongs 30 are rotatable about the axis of spindle 28, this axis defining an axis of symmetry for prongs 30. One end of ejector rod 32 terminates in a button or cap 34. (As will be described in more detail hereinafter, this rod, during per-iods when the ejection operation does not occur, is held in the position shown in the drawings through the action of compression spring 36.) The other end of rod 32 terminates in a plate 35.

Two spring loaded curved or straight clamps 3-3 (FIGS. 14) press about a major portion of the periphery of prongs 30.

Twine 40 from a cone of twine 42 passes through a curved twine guide arm 44 and drops vertically past the clamps 3% into a bobbin 46 which forms a portion of twine knotting and cutting apparatus 48. The cone 42, guide arm 44, bobbin 46 and apparatus 48, together constitute a twine tying mechanism (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4), the function of which will be described hereinafter. (Since this mechanism is of a well known type, as for example Saxmayer Model EM Electric Tying Machine as sold by National Bundle Tyer Company, Blissfield Michigan, its structure is not shown in detail in the drawings.)

A switch control rod 50 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is positioned adjacent clamps 38. This rod closes or opens microswitch 52 which in turn energizes or deenergizes solenoid 54. This solenoid 54, when energized, causes clutch 56 to mechanically connect gear 58 to gear so so that these gears will rotate together. Gear 58 is rigidly attached to shaft 60. When this solenoid 54 is deenergized, these gears rotate together for a short interval until the faces of the clutch separate and gears 58 and 80- are disengaged. Gear 58 is connected by an endless chain 72 to gear 64.

Electrical plug 66 is connected to a 110 volt 60 cycles per second power line. Motor 68 is connected through an ON-OFF switch 70 to plug 66.

A drive belt 62 connects the shaft of motor 68 to a gear 76 mounted on shaft 74 and rotatable therewith a second gear 78 or shaft '74 engages gear 80*. Gear 80 rotates freely about shaft 60. A second clutch 82 is interposed between gear '78 and the twine knotting and cutting apparatus 48. When clutch 82 is engaged, the rotation of gear 78 is transmitted through shaft 79 to apparatus 48. When clutch 82 is disengaged, gear 78 and apparatus 48 are mechanically disconnected.

The machine operates in the following manner. When the ON-OFF switch is turned on, motor 68 is energized and gears 76, 78, 811 and 102 rotate continuously. (The operation of gear 102 will be explained hereinafter.) With the switch control rod positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the microswitch 52 is open and clutches 56 and 82 revolution.

4 are disengaged. As a result, no other mechanical motions take place until the microswitch is closed.

An operator positioned adjacent the inclined side edge 16 of plate It then places a newspaper on the plate so that one side of the newspaper abuts the high shoulder 22. (The spacing between the high and low shoulder 22 and 26 is such that when the newspaper is positioned in this manner, the side of the newspaper opposite to that abutting shoulder 22 is spaced away from shoulder 20.)

The newspaper is then pushed downward by the op erator until the forward edge of the newspaper passes between the two prongs 39. As the newspaper assumes this position, a portion of the vertical length of twine 40 makes loose peripheral contact with the newspaper and remains in this position until the tying operation be gins, as will be described later. At about the same time, however, the newspaper moves the switch control rod 50 (which is pivoted about point 84 in FIG. 1) to a point at which microswitch 52 is closed. Solenoid 54 is then energized and pulls a [knife out of contact with a spiral face of clutch 56. Clutch 56 then engages gears 58 and 80. Chaindrive 72, maintained under tension by a spring loaded idler 1M, interconnects gears 58 and 64, thus providing rotational energy to spindle 28. Gear 64 is mounted in a bearing 37. Bearing 37 (FIG. 1) is secured to a side wall of the outside frame by bolts 108 which extend through horizontal slots 110. Bearing 37 can be moved horizontally in said slots toward and away from shaft 60. In the absence of any newspaper in prongs 30, the tension provided by idler 1W maintains a minimum horizontal separation between bearing 37 and shaft 60.

-As a result, shaft 60 rotates through one complete This action, by virtue of the ratios of gears 58 and 64, causes gear 64 to rotate through three revolutions. The prongs 30 consequently rotate through three revolutions and the newspaper is rolled into a cylinder.

(The clamps 38 press upon the newspaper during the rolling operation and insure that the newspaper is formed into a tight roll. If the newspaper is rolled into a loose roll, newsboys cannot throw the newspapers a sufficient distance to permit the conventional type of home delivery in which the newspaper are thrown from a bicycle or car onto a front lawn or porch of a private home.)

As shaft 60 completes one revolution, a cam rig-' idly attached to this shaft raises a clutch starting lever 92 and engages clutch 82. Clutch 82 then clamps gear 78 to shaft 7 9, and shaft 79 begins to rotate. An eccentric 94 shifts a generally horizontal lever 96 to the left and causes the twine guide arm 44 to pivot about shaft 98 until the tip of this arm 44 rests within a portion of bobbin 46. The remainder of bobbin 46 is covered by a bracket 106 which extends in a direction parallel to the axis of spindle 28. At this point, a length of twine is wrapped about the periphery of the rolled newspaper as a loose loop. Apparatus 48 then tightens the loop, ties a knot in the loop, and severs the loop from the rest of the twine.

Further rotation of shaft 79 then causes cam 114 mounted thereon to depress a cam follower lever 116 cooperating therewith. This lever 116 then moves a knife out of contact with the spiral face of another clutch 118. Clutch 118 then causes gear 102 (which is continuously rotated by gear 84 and which is keyed to shaft 136) to drive bevel gear 120 (keyed to shaft 138). A second bevel gear 122, keyed to shaft 124, engages gear 120 to rotate shaft 124.

An eccentric or crank 126 at the end of shaft 124 moves rod 128 secured to an end of a curved member 130, causing member 1319 at end 134 (which pivots about point 132 intermediate the ends of the member) to push ejector rod 32 and button 37 against the rolled and tied newspaper, thus forcing this newspaper off the prongs 30. The newspaper then drops off prongs 30 into a suitable receptacle. Slight further rotation of shaft 124 then returns member 130 to its original positions (i.e. that shown in the figures) and spring 36 returns the ejector rod to its original position. The use of mechanically separate elements, rod 32 and member 130, eliminates any possibility of jamming the machine should rod 32 fail to eject the rolled paper. If these elements were joined mechanically, such failure could damage the machine. More particularly, if ejector rod 32 cannot penetrate forward into the. region between the prongs, for example because the rolled paper is jammed, the force exerted by the eccentric 126 and rod 128 will be taken up by spring 136 so that member 130 will not break rod 32.

As the newspaper is dropped, cam 114 raises follower lever 116, clutch 118 is disengaged, and gear 102 no longer drives gear 120. In addition, the switch control rod returns to its original position. Another newspaper can then be supplied for processing as previously indicated. In order to insure that shaft 60 returns to its original position, a spring loaded stop 104 is positioned to engage a fiat 106 on shaft 60 to positively stop rotation at the desired position. (If desired, a fiat can be cut into each of shafts 79 and 124 and additional spring loaded stops can be used in the manner as with shaft 60.) When the minimum separation between bearing 37 and shaft 60 is maintained, as previously described, a minimum separation or clearance is also established between bracket 106 and a line representing an extension of spindle 28. When a newspaper is inserted between prongs 30, this newspaper bears against bracket 106. The thickness of the rolled newspaper exceeds the minimum clearance, and since bracket 106 cannot move, bearing 37 is caused to move horizontally in slots 110 away from shaft 60 to an extent determined by the newspaper thickness, thereby automatically adjusting the spacing between prongs 30 and the mechanism 48 in accordance with this thickness.

The procedure thus far described does not apply an outer protective layer to the newspaper. In order to apply such a layer, wax paper sheets can be stacked on a sheet receiving tray 108 secured to the machine as shown in FIG. 4. When the wrapping is to completely cover the newspaper, these sheets must have a larger area than that of the newspaper to be covered. The operator can first place the sheet on the plate so that one side of the sheet abuts the lower shoulder 20, while the other side of the sheet strikes the high shoulder 22 and sticks upward. (In other words, the sheet if fiat would extend past both shoulders.) The operator then places a newspaper on top of the sheet so that one side of the newspaper abuts the high shoulder 22 in the manner previously described. Then, as the newspaper and sheets are pushed downward together, the plows 24 and 26 fold the edges of the wax sheet adjacent the shoulders over on top of the newspaper. During the rolling operation, the newspaper and sheet are rolled together so that the sheet completely covers and protects the newspaper from rain, snow and the like.

When newspapers are wrapped for mailing, the wrapper need not cover the entire newspaper and hence the wrapper can be much smaller in area than the news paper.

While I have shown and pointed out my invention as applied above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications can be made within the scope and spirit of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging machine for rolling and tying individual newspapers comprising a horizontal cylindrical wrapping spindle rotatable about its own axis, a forked member secured to said spindle and rotatable therewith, said member having two spaced apart prongs extending in the direction of said spindle and equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said spindle, said prongs being adapted to receive a flat newspaper therebetween for rolling; driving means which when actuated rotates said spindle through a predetermined number of revolutions and when deactuated cannot rotate said spindle; a switch which when closed actuates said driving means and when open deactuates said driving means, said switch positioned adjacent said prongs to be closed by the passage of said newspaper as it is inserted between said prongs whereby rotation of said spindle rolls said newspaper; a tying mechanism disposed adjacent said spindle and horizontally separated from said prongs and said spindle, said mechanism being mechanically coupled to said driving means and actuated thereby to tie and knot a length of string about the rolled newspaper during completion of said number of revolutions; and means to vary automatically the horizontal spacing between said spindle and said mechanism in accordance with the thickness of the newspaper being rolled.

2. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 1 further including an ejector rod mounted in said spindle having a first position at which said rod is extended into the region between said prongs and a second position at which said rod is withdrawn from said region, said rod being normally in said second position, and means mechanically coupled to said driving means and separate from said rod to move said rod from said second position to said first position when said spindle completes each sequence of rotation through said number of revolutions.

3. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 2 further including a compression spring carried by a portion of said ejector rod to return said rod from said first position to said second position.

4. A packaging machine for rolling and tying individual newspapers comprising a vertically inclined plate having upper and lower horizontal edges, a horizontal cylindrical wrapping spindle positioned along said plate and extending in a direction parallel to said upper and lower edges, said spindle being rotatable about its own axis; a forked member secured to said spindle and rotatable therewith, said member having two spaced apart prongs extending in said direction and equidistantly spaced about the periphery of said spindle, said prongs being adapted to receive a flat newspaper therebetween for rolling; driving means which when actuated rotates said spindle through a predetermined number of revolutions and when deactuated cannot rotate said spindle, said driving means including a rotatable shaft for rotating said spindle, said shaft carrying a first gear, a second continuously rotating gear and an electric clutch which when actuated causes said first and second gears to be mechanically coupled and when deactuated causes said first and second gears to be decoupled; a switch connected to said clutch, said switch when closed actuating said clutch to actuate said driving means and when open deactuating said clutch to deactuate said driving means, said switch being positioned adjacent said prongs to be closed when a newspaper is inserted between said prongs whereby rotation of said spindle causes said newspaper to be rolled; a switch control rod extending through and above and below said plate and mechanically coupled to said switch, said rod having a first position at which said switch is closed and a second position at which said switch is opened; a tying mechanism disposed adjacent said spindle and horizontally separated therefrom to tie and knot a length of string around the rolled newspaper when said mechanism is actuated; and means mechanically coupling said mechanism to said driving means to actuate said mechanism as said spindle completes said number of revolutions to produce said rolled and tied newspaper.

5. A packaging machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein an ejector rod is mounted in said spindle, said ejector rod having a first position at which said rod is extended into the region between said prongs and a second position at which said rod is withdrawn from said region,

8 said rod being normally in said second position, ejector tion through the desired number of revolutions to engage control means mechanically separate from the ejector said second clutch. rod to move said rod from said second position to said l first position when said control means is actuated, said Refei'ences cnted m the file of thls Patent control means having a third gear, a second clutch which 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS when engaged couples said third gear to said continu- 478,345 Linthicum July 5 1 92 ously rotating second gear to actuate said control means, 2 499 407 Bolard Dic. 6, 1949 said second clutch when disengaged decoupling said sec- 2,313,336 K N 19, 1957 0nd and third gears to deactuate said control means; and 2,871,638 Goodwin Feb. 3, 1959 means responsive to the compeltion of the spindle rota- 10 3,019,015 Potter et a1. Jan. 30, 1962 

1. A PACKAGING MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND TYING INDIVIDUAL NEWSPAPERS COMPRISING A HORIZONTAL CYLINDRICAL WRAPPING SPINDLE ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS, A FORKED MEMBER SECURED TO SAID SPINDLE AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, SAID MEMBER HAVING TWO SPACED APART PRONGS EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID SPINDLE AND EQUIDISTANTLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SPINDLE, SAID PRONGS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A FLAT NEWSPAPER THEREBETWEEN FOR ROLLING; DRIVING MEANS WHICH WHEN ACTUATED ROTATES SAID SPINDLE THROUGH A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS AND WHEN DEACTUATED CANNOT ROTATE SAID SPINDLE; A SWITCH WHICH WHEN CLOSED ACTUATES SAID DRIVING MEANS AND WHEN OPEN DEACTUATES SAID DRIVING MEANS, SAID SWITCH POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID PRONGS TO BE CLOSED BY THE PASSAGE OF SAID NEWSPAPER AS IT IS INSERTED BETWEEN SAID PRONGS WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID SPINDLE ROLLS SAID NEWSPAPER; A TYING MECHANISM DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID SPINDLE AND HORIZONTALLY SEPARATED FROM SAID PRONGS AND SAID SPINDLE, SAID MECHANISM BEING MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID DRIVING MEANS AND ACTUATED THEREBY TO TIE AND KNOT A LENGTH OF STRING ABOUT THE ROLLED NEWSPAPER DURING COMPLETION OF SAID NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS; AND MEANS TO VARY AUTOMATICALLY THE HORIZONTAL SPACING BETWEEN SAID SPINDLE AND SAID MECHANISM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE THICKNESS OF THE NEWSPAPER BEING ROLLED. 